Billfold



A. A. TOLBERT June 28, 1955 BILLFOLD 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec.

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, INVENTOR flriizzrfl. YZPZZerZ ATTORNEY June 28, 1955 r A. A. TOLBERT BILLFOLD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 31, 1947 mm 1 A r m ATTORNEY June 28, 1955 A. A. TOLBERT 2,711,758

BILLF'OLD Original Filed Dec. 31, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Jrfilurjl. 7075072 United States Patent BILLFOLD Arthur Andrew Tolbert, Yoakum, Tex.,. as'signor to Tex Tan of Yoakum, Yoakuin, Tex., a corporation of Texas Original application December 31, 1947, Serial No.

' 794,839, now Patent No. 2,609,025, dated September 2,- 1952. Divided and this application lune 9, 1952,

Serial No-.- 292,437

7 Claims. (Cl. 150-38)" tive of the bulk of the contents of the several pockets.

A further object. of the invention is to provide a billfold as stated of such construction that the capacity and use of any of said pockets is not hampered by the magnitude of the contents of the other pockets.

A further obfect of the invention i'sto provide in a billtold, a card pocket which will normally hold the contents firmly therein; and which will release the contents for easy removal therefrom by a slight pressure exerted upon the outer edges of the pocket.

A further object of'the invention is to provide in a billfold, a pocket equipped with means to facilitate insertion'and removal of cards or the like, which means will normally tend to expand the pocket transversely, thereby causing the outer' wall of the pocket to clamp the contents therein.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view, the invention consists generally in a billfold comprising an outer wall and an inner wall of less length than the outer wall, a pair of end. pocket forming walls integral with said outer wall and extending from the lower edge thereof, said end pocket forming walls being folded over said inner wall and each provided with a longitudinal flap in its upper edge folded overand secured; to the upper edge of said inner wall',and seamed thereto, means connecting the vertical outer ends of said inner pocket forming walls to the adjacent edges of said inner wall,-the length of said inner wall being less than the length of the outer wall, and end flapson said outer wall folded over the ends of said inner wall and said pocket forming walls, and means securing said flaps to the last said walls.

The invention further consists in a billfold as above stated, further characterized by a divider w'all arranged in the main longitudinal pocket, of less length than said pocket and secured in position by means, such-as stitching, connecting the lower edge thereof to the lower edge of said inner wall.

The invention. further consists in a billfold having an inner pocket as above stated, and an expandable card pocket superposed on said end pocket and having three closed outer edges each of which is free for movement toward and from said end pocket.

.The invention further consists in the combination of an inner pocket and asuperposed po'cket as above stated,

with a resilient expander in the superposed pocket to cause the outer wall of said pocket to normally press upon and clampihgly hold the contents of the pocket, and

too

which will. release the contents for easy extraction when pressure is applied to the opposite edges of the superposed pocket.

The invention further consists in an inner pocket and a superposed pocket having three closed edges adapted for movement toward and from the inner pocket, an

expander in said superposed pocket comprising a sheet of resilient material fitting snugly within said pocket between the lateral edges thereof, and having serrations on the lateral edges thereof permitting ready insertion of the expander but preventing accidental. withdrawal thereof.

The invention further consists invarious details of construction and arrangements of parts, all as will be fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims. 7

The invention will be more readily understood by ref erence to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a billfold embodying the invention, the same being illustrated in open position;

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of one end of the billfold in open position;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on substantially the line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detailv section of the pocket expander taken on substantially the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a flat plan view of the main body blank from which the main body portion of the billfold is formed;

Fig. 8 is a similar view of the blank from which the superposed pocket is formed;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the blank forming the inner wall of the main pocket;

Fig. 10 is a similar view of the divider member;

Fig. 1.1 is a schematic view illustrating the connections betweenv the main body blank and the inner wall and the divider member; and

Fig. 12 is a vertical section at the hinge portion.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates the outer wall of a billfold and 11- the main inner wall thereof, which together form a pocket 12 for paper currency, checks and the like. Between the walls 10 and 11 is a divider 13 separating the pocket 12 into compartments 14 and 15, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.

The outer wall 10 is defined on the main body blank 17, illustrated in Fig. 7, by the upper and lower score lines 18 and 19,. respectively, and the transverse score lines 20 and 21. Secured to the inner face of the outer wall 10, as by cementing is a skiver liner 22; and a flap 23 on the upper edge of the blank 17, is folded over the skiver liner and cemented in place, providing a reinforced upper edge to the outer wall 10".

Integral with the wall 10, and extending from the lower edge thereof as defined by the score line 19 are end pocket forming sections 26 and 27, which fold over the inner wall 11. and form the inner walls of end pockets 28' and 29. As these pockets are similar, only one of said pockets is illustrated in detail. The blank is cut away between the pocket forming sections 26 and 27 asindicated at in Figs. 1, 2, 5' and 7, to give access to the pockets 28 and 29 when the billfold is opened, andalso to permit unhampered folding of the device. A tab 31 is left between the sections 26 and 27 which is folded inwardly and upwardly, and cemented to the liner 22, forming a reinforced lower edge for the central hinge portion 32. The upper edges of sections 26 and 27 are formed with flaps 35 and 36, respectively, which are folded over the upper edge of the inner wall 11 and stitched thereto as indicated at 37.

The inner wall 11 is somewhat shorter than the outer wall 10, and is attached at its ends to the outer ends of the walls 26 and 27, as by stitching 38; and it should be noted that said outer ends of walls 26 and 27 are cut back as at 39 to conform to the length of wall 11 and for a purpose hereinafter described.

Formed on the ends of outer wall are flaps 41 and 42 which are folded over the outer faces of walls 26 and 27, respectively, and terminate in tabs 43 and 44 which extend through transverse slits 45 and 46 in said pocket walls 26 and 27.

By having the inner wall 11 shorter than the outer wall 10, and having the pocket forming'walls 26 and 27 cut back as hereinbefore described, the flaps 41 and 42 may be readily folded over said walls leaving a clearance at the ends of the billfold between said flaps and the ends of the walls 11 and 26-27, so that the device may be readily folded even when the compartments 14 and are well filled. Also for this reason, the divider 13 is considerably shorter than the walls 10 and 11.

Superposed over the pocket 28 is an inner pocket 50 having an inner wall 51, formed from a blank 52, shown in Fig. 8. This wall 51 is defined on the blank 52 by upper and lower score lines 53 and 54, a transverse score line 55 at the outer end of the pocket, and an inner edge 56 which is reversely curved forming a recess 57 to facilitate handling the contents of the pocket. The wall 51 is preferably substantially the same width as the end pocket 26, and is provided on the upper and lower longitudinal edges thereof with flaps 60 which are folded under the wall 51. Tabs 61 are provided on the longitudinal edges of said flaps which are extended through longitudinally disposed slits 62 formed in the end pocket wall 26.

On the outer end of the wall 51 is an integral flap 63 which is folded under said wall and provided with a terminal tab 64 which extends through the transverse slit 45 or 46 and cemented to the inner face of the wall 26 or 27. The tab 43 on the flap 41, which also extends through the slit 45 as hereinbefore described, is cemented to the tab 64; and a liner sheet 65, which may be of tough paper or other suitable material, is cemented to the inner face of the wall 26 and over tabs 61, 64 and 43, forming a smooth inner surface for said pocket 28 to permit unhampered insertion of a card holding folder 66, preferably formed of a transparent material such as cellophane.

The tabs 61 on the flaps 60 extend along the longitudinal edges of the flaps 60 from the inner edge 56 thereof and terminate remote from the opposite end of the flap as indicated at 67, and incut notches 68 and 69 extend inwardly from the ends of the tabs,'the distance between the inner ends of the respective notches being substantially the same as the length of the slits 62 so as to key the flaps in position. Notches 70 are provided between the flap 63 and the tab 64 thereon; the distance between the inner ends of said notches being substantially equal to the length of the slit 45, to key said flap in place. By this arrangement the wall 51 of the pocket 50 is free to be moved outwardly throughout its extent, the full width of the flaps 60, which will permit the inner pocket 50 to expand freely without interference or diminution of its capacity by the contents of pocket 28, which would be the case if said edges were restricted in movement.

Means are provided for normally collapsing the pocket 50 to keep the outer wall 51 thereof pressed against the contents of the pocket to retain said contents therein. This comprises a sheet 71 of resilient material, preferably a heavy acetate, cut to fit snugly within the pocket against the lateral folded edges and terminates adjacent end folded edge; and is of sufiicient renitency to exert ample pressure against the lateral edges to normally flatten the pocket wall, and thereby press said wall against the cards or other contents of the pocket.

The resilient sheet covers the underturned flaps and 63, and the slits through which the tabs 61 and 64 project thereby presenting a smooth surface to facilitate insertion of cards. Also for this purpose, the forward and of the sheet 71 is formed at the sides with extensions 12 which project beyond the adjacent edge 56 of the pocket; and at the center is cut back within the bounds of the wall 51, as at 73 so that the cards may be freely grasped.

For a portion of their length, the side edges of the sheet 71 are serrated forming teeth 74 which embed themselves in the leather or other material of which the pocket is formed. The serrations or teeth 74 incline forwardly forming barbs so that the sheet may be readily inserted, but cannot be accidently removed or shifted from its normal position, although it may be removed for replacement when worn or damaged.

To relieve the pressure on the contents. of the pocket, the pocket may be pressed at the top and bottom edges between the thumb and finger, thereby bowing the wall 51 outwardly, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and bowing the sheet 71 inwardly. In order to assure that the sheet 71 shall always bow in the opposite direction from the wall 51, a slight crease or indentation 75 is formed in the same extending inwardly from the outer edge at or adjacent the center.

The divider 13 for the main pocket extends above the upper edge of the inner wall 11, but terminates below the upper edge of the wall 10, so as to facilitate access to the desired compartment 14 or 15. The lower portion of the divider 13 is tapered downwardly as indicated at 13', and the central portion of the lower edge is arcuately cut as at 77, which also facilitates folding the billfold. For this reason the lower edge of the main inner wall 11 is also cut away, as indicated at 78. The lower edge of the divider 13, between the tapered ends 13 and the cut 77 is secured to the lower edge of the inner. wall 11, preferably by stitching 79, as illustrated in Fig. 12.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

I claim:

1. In a billfold, an end pocket wall, an inner pocket wall superposed thereon, and means connecting said walls, said means comprising a flap on each side and on the outer end of said inner pocket wall and folded under the same forming three closed folded edges, tabs on the free edges of each of said flaps, and said pocket wall having slits spaced inwardly remote from and parallel with said closed edges through which said tabs extend, whereby said edges are movable toward and from said inner pocket wall through their extent. 2. A device as set forth in claim 1, in combination with a sheet of resilient material fitting forcedly between the opposite of said folded edges and of sufiicient renitency to normally expand said inner pocket laterally to urge the superposed wall toward said end' pocket wall.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 in combinationwith a sheet of resilient material fitting forcedly between the opposite of said folded edges and of sufiicient renitency to force the same apart thereby normally. tending to urge the superposed wall toward said end pocket Wall, and teeth on the edges of said sheet, as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a billfold, an end pocket wall, an inner pocket wall superposed on the first said wall, flaps on the opposite longitudinal edges and a flap on the outer edge of said superposed pocket wall, said flaps being folded under said inner pocket wall forming three closed folded edges, tabs on the longitudinal edges of said flaps and secured to the'first said" wall and-a -s l 1eet of. resilient material fitting forcedly between said closed edges forcing said edges apart and thereby urging said superposed wall toward the end pocket wall, and forwardly projecting teeth on the lateral edges of said sheet slightly embedded in the material of the inner pocket at the adjacent folded edges.

5. In a billfold, an elongated outer wall, an inner wall of less width than said outer wall, end pocket forming walls integral with said outer wall and extending from the lower edge thereof, said end pocket walls being folded over said inner wall and each provided with a longitudinal flap on the upper edge folded over the upper edge of said inner wall and secured thereto, means connecting the outer ends of said end pocket forming walls to the adjacent edges of the inner wall, an inner pocket wall superposed over one of said end pocket Walls and provided with inturned flaps on the upper, lower and outer edges thereof, tabs on said flaps, and said end pocket wall being provided with a pair of longitudinal slits and a transverse slit spaced inwardly from the outer edges of said inner pocket wall, whereby the pocket formed by said superposed wall is provided with three closed edges movable relatively to the end pocket wall.

6. A billfold as set forth in claim 5 further characterized by an endflap on the end of the outer wall, folded over the adjacent end of the end pocket wall and provided with a tab extended through the transverse slit and secured over the tab extending from the end flap of the superposed wall.

7. A billfold including an outer wall, and an end pocket wall integral therewith, said end pocket wall having a transverse slit spaced from the outer end thereof, an inner pocket wall superposed over said end pocket wall, a flap on the outer end of said inner pocket wall and extending through said slit, said flap being turned under and cemented to the adjacent inner face of said end pocket wall, and means for connecting the longitudinal edges of the superposed pocket wall to said end pocket wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,832,900 Godfrey Nov. 24, 1931 1,866,618 Buxton July 12, 1932 1,964,460 Gardner June 26, 1934 2,011,846 Buxton Aug. 20, 1935 2,151,465 Dalebrook Mar. 21, 1939 2,306,001 Struhl Dec. 22, 1942 2,403,507 Davio July 9, 1946 2,429,661 Amsterdam Oct. 28, 1947 2,444,366 Potter June 29, 1948 2,505,994 Sahula -1. May 2, 1950 2,609,025 Tolbert Sept. 2, 1952 

